Here I am in the “great”city of Winnipeg enjoying the weather. It is actually a couple of degrees warmer than PA was when I left and they don’t have the beauty of our snow either. So far the boots have been unnecessary. (In winter, I think the baggage allowance on airlines should increase – it takes a lot of room to pack along boots,winter coats, scarves and mitts.)

The Church planter conference that I am at – re:CALL – is as good as I expected. Maybe better. You can check out what is going on here. I’ve been to workshops by Karen Wilk: Learning to Live in the Neighbourhood for Transformation and Shari Russell: First Nations and today I think I will attend the one by Christine Pohl: Recovering Hospitality as Christian Tradition. Good stuff.

It been a really busy couple of days. All the Covenant folks kind of hang out together too and that is great. I do sort of feel a bit like the grandmother to this group – not that they make me feel old or anything. It is really great to be with so many young leaders of the church. Getting together with Marc and Dixie, LT(well he’s not Cov. but we like him) new folks from Ontario as well as the Winnipeg gang and other pastors from across Canada is always fun. Jamie obligingly signed a copy of his book, The Cost of Community which I brought along for that very reason. I just wish I had more time to read the fun stuff they were selling on the table outside the meeting place!

I am anticipating enjoying the rest of my week as well. I will be in ECCC board meetings for the next few days, then a committee meeting Saturday, will worship with the folks at Faith Covenant Sunday morning, at Little Flowers Sunday evening, run out to Otterburne to get the inside story on the trailer life of a seminary student. I have to find some time to shop for a gift for my 4 year old grandaughter too since I miss her big party on Saturday. In between all, I have to keep up with my class and start work on my exegesis paper.